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The French term "mis en examen" - meaning "charged" in English - does not automatically trigger a trial, but means that prosecutors strongly suspect wrongdoing.

Mis en examen is the formal start of a criminal investigation under French law.

The announcement that she had been mise en examen – the equivalent in French law of being charged or arraigned – came after several hours of questioning by the French financial prosecutor.

Fillon has been summoned before judges on 15 March, when he could be mis en examen – the nearest thing in French law to being charged or arraigned.

In a hastily arranged press conference, he declared he had been summoned by three judges “with a view” to being mis en examen, but insisted he would continue his presidential campaign.